Six reasons why celebrities choose Costa Rica for their dream vacation, and the celebrities that have already done so.
On February 27th, 2023, Costa Rica welcomed the first direct flight from Australia after almost fifteen hours of travel, with six people on board including crew members. The luxury executive private plane, the Bombardier Global 7500, flying from Queensland, landed at the Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR) in Guanacaste. The lucky passengers would be vacationing in the country for about seven days, according to local immigration authorities. Who were the celebrities on this flight? Well, we do not know yet, but will probably do by next week, after their departure.
Could it be Matt Damon? We know he owns a Bombardier Global 7500 plane, and we also know he loves Costa Rica and has been here a couple of times with his family. The actor usually spends his vacation days in Guanacaste, enjoying its wonderful beaches and warm ocean waters. Actors, actresses, singers, models, and influencers are all part of the select list of celebrities who have traveled to Costa Rica on vacation during the last few years.
These are six reasons why celebrities choose Costa Rica for their dream vacation:
Natural beauty: Costa Rica is known for its natural beauty, including stunning beaches, lush rainforests, and impressive wildlife. Many celebrities are drawn to the country's idyllic landscapes and opportunities for outdoor adventures.
Privacy: Costa Rica is relatively secluded and offers a great deal of privacy, making it an ideal destination for celebrities who want to escape the paparazzi and enjoy some time away from the spotlight.
Sustainable tourism: Costa Rica is committed to sustainable tourism practices, which many celebrities find appealing. The country is known for its eco-tourism initiatives and its efforts to protect the environment.
Luxury accommodations: Costa Rica has a variety of luxury accommodations, including private villas, high-end resorts, and exclusive rental homes. Celebrities can enjoy a luxurious vacation while still enjoying the country's natural beauty and privacy.
Adventure activities: Costa Rica offers a wide range of adventure activities, including surfing, zip-lining, hiking, rafting, kayaking, wildlife sightings, and others. Many celebrities enjoy the opportunity to try new experiences and push themselves out of their comfort zones while on vacation.
Friendly people: Costa Rica is well known for the warmth and friendliness of its “Ticos” (local idiomatic term for Costa Rican citizens) and for their “Pura Vida” way of enjoying life.
Celebrities who have traveled on vacation to Costa Rica over the last few years.
Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady: The supermodel and NFL former quarterback have visited Costa Rica multiple times, and they even own a house in Santa Teresa, a barefoot-chic beach town in Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. Here, Gisele has spent quality time with friends and family since her separation from husband Tom Brady in 2022.
Tom Cruise: Renowned actor, Tom Cruise, visited Costa Rica on January 2023 with Connor Anthony Kidman Cruise, son of Cruise and Nicole Kidman. Apparently, both would have entered the country by sea, and remained on board a yacht at Marina Los Sueños in the Central Pacific coast until they left the country. The Top Gun: Maverick, and Mission Impossible actor was seen sport fishing in the warm Pacific waters.
Chris Martin: Two weeks before Coldplay performed at its March 2022 sold-out concerts in Costa Rica, the British band's lead singer, Chris Martin, arrived in Costa Rica and privately celebrated his 45th birthday at a secret location.
Angelina Jolie: The actress, director and activist spent her 2021 New Year's Eve in Costa Rica with her sons Maddox Chivan and Pax Thien Jolie-Pitt. We do not know if her younger children, Sahara, Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne, also joined her. Jolie has been in feature films including Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Tomb Raider, Kung Fu Panda, Maleficent, and recently joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as part of the Eternals cast.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z: The music power couple spent New Year’s Eve 2022 in Costa Rica and spent a couple of days in the beach town of Santa Teresa on the Pacific coast. Beyoncé and Jay-Z have three children together, Blue Ivy, Rumi, and Sir Carter; however, it is unknown if the kids also traveled with them. Both singers visited Costa Rica in 2019 for a family vacation, and even celebrated their 9th wedding anniversary here. They had also previously traveled in 2014 to attend the wedding of their friend and colleague, Kelly Rowland, a judge on The Voice program.
Emma Roberts: The American Horror Story actress, Emma Roberts, shared on her social networks photographs of the natural paradisaical spots she visited in Costa Rica, specifically in the Pérez Zeledón region. Roberts traveled in January 2022, just after ending her relationship with actor Garrett Hedlund.
Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly: The couple visited Costa Rica in May 2021, and we actually saw them enjoying cocktails at the open-air, ocean-view lounge in the luxury beach resort they were staying at, on Guanacaste’s Peninsula Papagayo. The Transformers actress told Arsenio Hall, on The Jimmy Kimmel Show, about their experience during a holistic and plant-based private ceremony in the Costa Rica jungle.
Leonardo DiCaprio: The Titanic, Great Gatsby, and The Wolf of Wall Street actor has visited Costa Rica multiple times and is a strong advocate for environmental conservation in the country. Leo has been spotted in Costa Rica several times surfing or yachting in the blue Pacific waters and staying in locations such as Santa Teresa and Malpaís coastal towns.
Florence Pugh: The British-born actress, known for her roles in Marvel’s Black Widow, Lady Macbeth, and Little Women, visited Costa Rica on vacation in January 2022. She posted a Flamingo Beach sunset picture on her Instagram account.
Arón Piper and Jessica Goicoechea: The German-Spanish actor Arón Piper, known for his role as Ander in the popular Netflix series Elite, arrived in Costa Rica on January 2022 with his girlfriend, the Spanish model and influencer Jessica Goicoechea to enjoy a few relaxing days at the beach, and to go on wildlife sighting expeditions.
Nicky Hilton: The socialite and Paris Hilton's sister, Nicky Hilton, was another celebrity who visited Costa Rica in 2022. She stayed at a luxury mountain resort and spa in the Pérez Zeledón region, near the country’s southwestern Pacific coast.
Nina Dobrev: The Canadian actress from Vampire Diaries and Love Hard, visited Costa Rica in March 2022 with her boyfriend, Olympic snowboarder Shaun White. She posted several Instagram stories of their romantic getaway in a luxury resort in Pérez Zeledón, on the country’s southern region.
Drew Barrymore: During The Drew Barrymore Show, a CBS entertainment and interview program, the actress from Charlie's Angels, Never Been Kissed and E.T. spoke on how much the natural beauties of Costa Rica captivated her during a Christmas 2019 trip with her daughters Olive y Frankie. She said that they went to the beach, surfed, experienced ziplining, and visited several waterfalls. “It is one of the most beautiful places I have been on planet Earth.”, she commented.
Christian Bale: British actor Christian Bale, known for his role as Batman visited Costa Rica in December 2017 to enjoy the holidays with his wife and two children. They visited the beaches in Guanacaste province.
Lady Gaga: The American singer uploaded several photos to her Instagram account on her December 2017 holiday vacation in Costa Rica. She was spotted at the beaches in Guanacaste’s Pacific coast.
Michelle Rodriguez: The Fast and Furious saga actress traveled to Costa Rica on March 2021, just after the country opened its international borders to visitors again after the pandemic. Social media users spotted her in the Santa Teresa hip beach town on the Pacific coast.
Joey King: The actress from The Kissing Booth traveled to Costa Rica on February 2022 with her boyfriend, Steven Piet. On Instagram, Joey shared some of her unique experiences in the country, such as one where she is standing before a beautiful waterfall surrounded by the tropical rainforest.
Shawn Mendes: The Canadian singer visited Costa Rica on November 2022, apparently one day after he and Camila Cabello officially announced the end of their relationship. Social media users said they spotted him enjoying his vacation on the Guanacaste beaches.
Bella Thorne: The Shake It Up Disney girl and American actress, dancer and model, Bella Thorne, visited Costa Rica on November 2022 with her family. She stayed in the Arenal volcano region of San Carlos located on the country’s northern plains. Her mother Tamara shared several Instagram stories of their stay.
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West: The first time the Kardashian-Jenners were in Costa Rica was in January 2017. On that occasion, mother Kris, as well as Kendall, Kylie, Khloe and Kim, vacationed in different parts of the country. There was also Scott Disick and his children, and they all stayed in a luxurious private villa at Peninsula Papagayo. Then, in June 2019, part of the group traveled again to Costa Rica for young North West’s sixth birthday. The socialites posted their experiences on Instagram for several days.
Keanu Reeves: The Speed and The Matrix Canadian actor visited Costa Rica in April 2022, and his trip became widely publicized when his voluntary pictures with smiling “Ticos” at the Daniel Oduber airport in Liberia, went viral.
Ashton Kutcher: The Jobs and What Happens in Vegas actor visited Costa Rica in January 2022. Although it was not revealed if the actor came to the country for a film project or just for vacation, the truth is that he spent a couple of days here.
Zac Efron: The High School Musical actor visited Costa Rica in March 2022 with his brother Dylan Efron and some friends. He is said to visit the country at least once a year. They enjoyed the beach in Santa Teresa, and even published a picture on an ATV with the caption “my heart is here”.
Julian Casablancas: Lead singer of American band The Strokes, visited Malpaís, a small beach town in the Pacific coast on January 2022. His stay was widely noticed because a local taxi driver found his lost passport and, without knowing who he was, posted its picture on Facebook with the intention of finding the owner.
Gwyneth Paltrow: The Shakespeare in Love actress, and Pepper Potts character in Iron Man visited Costa Rica in May 2022. She has been seen vacationing in the country several times with her family, specially after becoming a mother in 2004.
Matthew McConaughey: The Dallas Buyers Club and True Detective actor has been spotted surfing in Costa Rica and has expressed his love for the country in interviews. The actor has been seen in Costa Rica on vacation with his family, enjoying its beaches and wildlife.
Bill Gates: The billionaire tech mogul has visited Costa Rica several times and has even invested in sustainable tourism projects there. Where he stays, is still a mystery.
Mel Gibson: The Braveheart actor and Academy-award filmmaker owned a private estate and villa at Playa Barrigona in Guanacaste province. He has been spotted vacationing regularly there with friends, riding ATVs on dusty roads through the rainforest, and sharing with the locals at a restaurant.
Justin Bieber: The pop music singer stayed at a luxury villa located on the Papagayo Peninsula in Guanacaste’s Pacific coast back in April 2017 with family and friends, enjoying a beach getaway before his Purpose World Tour concert in Costa Rica.
Madonna: The famous pop icon has visited Costa Rica several times, and even held her 59th birthday party in the country.
Pink: In January 2006, singer Pink married biker Carey Hart in an exclusive luxury beach resort on Costa Rica’s Papagayo Peninsula. The bride and groom sealed their relationship at sunset during a private ceremony witnessed by relatives and friends who traveled to attend the couple’s wedding.
These are just a few examples of the many celebrities who have enjoyed the beauty and eco-adventure experiences of Costa Rica. Since there are no paparazzi in our country, and their privacy was always valued, the only existing pictures of their leisure days in the country are the ones they shared on their own Instagram accounts.
Where do celebrities stay in Costa Rica?
Although we do not know exactly where many of these celebrities stayed, most of them renting private luxury villas, following are some of the presumed hotels and resorts they chose for their Costa Rica getaway.
Costa Rica's natural beauty, privacy, sustainable tourism practices, luxury accommodations, adventure activities, and friendly “Ticos” make it a popular destination for celebrities seeking a relaxing and memorable vacation. They traveled with family and friends, took selfies and pictures of nature and wildlife, posted stories on Instagram, relaxed, fished, surfed, swam in the ocean, ate local food, and truly enjoyed their barefoot luxury experience in Costa Rica. Just like any of us would do!
Copyright content by Costa Rica Luxury Travel Magazine.